The Prime Minister's Council on Trade & Industry was recently re-notified. The first meeting of the newly constituted Council was held today, the May 26, 2010. The Council has as its members, the country's eminent industrialists and trade leaders The Council met in the presence of Finance Minister, Commerce and Industry Minister as well as Dr. C. Rangarajan, Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to PM.

The Council deliberated on India's industrial growth and achievements. The members also held wide-ranging discussions on various issues including use of clean technology for energy and economic security, research and development to further industrial growth, contribution of industries in food security and affirmative action for social inclusion.

Members expressed confidence in the strength of the Indian economy and its rising contribution to the global economy and reiterated that the economy was well on its way to return to a high growth trajectory of 9 percent plus growth rate.

The Prime Minister remarked on the need for industry to reach out to the rural economy and contribute in the efforts in skill development. He invited the members to form sub-groups on subjects of their interest including Food Security, Public Private Partnerships, Backward Area Development and Corporate Social Responsibility in order to deliberate further on these issues, and give their recommendations to Government. The Prime Minister's Office will coordinate and facilitate these groups.

Among those members of the Prime Minister's Council on Trade and Industry who attended the meeting were Dr. V. Krishnamurthy, Shri Rata Tata, Dr Ashok Ganguly, Shri Keshub Mahindra, Shri Mukesh Ambani, Shri R. P. Goenka, Shri Aziz Premji, Shri Sunil Mittal, Smt. Swati Piramal, Shri Deepak Parekh, Shri Jamshed Godrej, Smt Kiran Mazumdhar Shaw, Smt Chanda Kochhar, and Shri Sunil Kant Munjal.